29/03/2026
DILP or Kabuhayan Program is the DOLE’s contribution to the governments’ agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation and substantial poverty reduction. It seeks to reduce the vulnerability to risks of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers by providing them access to a grant assistance for capacity-building on livelihood ventures either for individual or group undertakings. Livelihood projects eligible for assistance are the following
Priorities of the Regional Development Council (RDC) and Regional Development Plan of LGUs
Key Employment Generators such as agribusiness, health and wellness, eco-tourism, manufacturing, small transport, wholesale and retail trade and local based industries as indicated in the Local Development Plan
DTI priority products e.g. coffee, coco-coir, cacao, rubber, support to tourism (crafts, processed food, services)
On the other hand, the following projects are not eligible for assistance:
Micro-lending projects
Projects with construction works
Projects that would require purchase of motor vehicles, which mean any vehicle propelled by any power other than muscular power using the public highways
The DILP is implemented either through Direct Administration by the DOLE Regional Offices or through an Accredited Co-Partner (ACP). Under this scheme, the following organizations will qualify for accreditation as co-partner: (a) peoples’ organizations; (b) workers’ associations; (c) unions/federations; (d) state universities and colleges/higher educational institutions/ national technical-vocational schools; (e) local government units; (f) cooperatives; and (g) national government agencies.
Livelihood assistance may be availed as individual projects or as group projects. For group projects, these may be segregated according to membership size:
Micro-Livelihood — the organization is composed of 15-25 members, and can avail of a maximum financial assistance of P250,000.00, depending on the project requirement.
Small Livelihood — the organization is composed of 26-50 members, and can avail of a maximum financial assistance of P500,000.00 depending on the project requirement.
Medium Livelihood — the organization is composed of more than 50 members, and can avail of a maximum financial assistance of P1,000,000.00, depending on the project requirement.
In all cases, a beneficiary-organization should have a Project Management Team and profit sharing scheme, which should be both stipulated in the business plan/proposal and in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Under individual projects arrangement, the beneficiary can avail of the Starter Kit or Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart), up to a maximum financial assistance of P20,000.00, depending on the project requirement.
Qualified beneficiaries of the Program are entitled to the following:
Working capital for the purchase of raw materials, equipment, tools and jigs, and other support services necessary
Training on how to plan, set-up, start and operate the livelihood project / undertaking, such as production skills, entrepreneurship, business management, productivity and business planning.
Social security through enrolment in Group Personal Accident Insurance (GPAI) of GSIS, to be included in the total project cost or as counterpart of the Accredited Co-Partner (ACP);
Continuing technical and business advisory services to ensure efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of the business/enterprise.
